Yes, the Monkees are STILL making music. And yes, the frontman of WEEZER wrote a song for them. And I've gotta tell you all about it.
If you think you've never heard of them, think of the songs "I'm a Believer" and "Daydream Believer". I'll link the songs here to help jog your memory:
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Okay so the Monkees are like the American equivalent of the Beatles, I dare say--I mean, there are also four of them, they also have a strangely spelled band name, they also acted, they also obtained huge success in a short amount of time, and they are also fab. At their peak, they outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined and they've sold over 75 million records worldwide, so yeah, they're pretty neat.
This rad rock band of Americans Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith and Brit Davy Jones was originally active from 1965 to 1971, and their TV show by the same name began in 1966. Since 1971, the members (all except Nesmith) have reunited many times for tours, shows, and new recordings until the death of Davy Jones in 2012. After this, it was rumored that Nesmith would rejoin the group for future reunions, which turned out to be true.
Fast-forward to this year, and we have a NEW Monkees album! In celebration of their 50th anniversary, they released Good Times! May 27. It features four songs written for the band in the '60s as well as songs written by contemporary songwriters like Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), and freaking Rivers Cuomo (Weezer). One of the tracks, "Love to Love", includes an archived vocal track of Davy Jones, which makes this first Monkees album since his death all the more special. Of course the band won't be the same without Davy's amazing voice and silly dancing, but there's something beautiful between the loss and rebirth within the band over all this time.
Here are a few songs from Good Times! that I love:
This rad rock band of Americans Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith and Brit Davy Jones was originally active from 1965 to 1971, and their TV show by the same name began in 1966. Since 1971, the members (all except Nesmith) have reunited many times for tours, shows, and new recordings until the death of Davy Jones in 2012. After this, it was rumored that Nesmith would rejoin the group for future reunions, which turned out to be true.
Fast-forward to this year, and we have a NEW Monkees album! In celebration of their 50th anniversary, they released Good Times! May 27. It features four songs written for the band in the '60s as well as songs written by contemporary songwriters like Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), and freaking Rivers Cuomo (Weezer). One of the tracks, "Love to Love", includes an archived vocal track of Davy Jones, which makes this first Monkees album since his death all the more special. Of course the band won't be the same without Davy's amazing voice and silly dancing, but there's something beautiful between the loss and rebirth within the band over all this time.
Here are a few songs from Good Times! that I love:
She makes me laugh, written by Rivers cuomo
This is the first song I heard from this album because as soon as I heard that RIVERS wrote it, I HAD to give it a listen. It's also my favorite. The lyrics are so quirky and Rivers-like and the song itself is so sixties and super cute. The tune is very catchy and I also love the vintage comic-style of the lyric video. What's better than playing scrabble with the guys and going on safari? That's right, nothing.
I'm so glad that I got her to think of | |
You bring the summer, written by Andy partridge
From the first line and note, this song is upbeat and reminiscent of the sixties while still maintaining a modern sound. I love how it sets up a scene of a winter picnic but with images of summer as well. It's kind of like saying that good can be found in bad times when a loved one is near, but in a cuter, more fun, light-hearted way. This is why I'm not a songwriter. But I can probably bring the chips and the dips and root beer.
Summer from your golden smile will paint the snow drops pinky rose | |
Love to love, written by neil diamond
This song was originally released by the Monkees in 1967, but I think this is the best version. It has a previously unreleased recording of Davy Jones's vocals, and they're more prominent than in the original. This song is like getting a curly fry in your regular fries. It's not what you expected, but you're glad you got it, and you will savor it. Okay wow, terrible metaphor, but I mean this song is simply amazing and I'm so glad they added Davy's vocals, because it's nice to hear him again among the newer tracks. It's kind of haunting but extremely refreshing at the same time.
You gotta have love to love | |
If you weren't already, hopefully you are a Monkees fan now. I'm so happy that the band is still touring and making new music after all this time, even after the death of their best vocalist. It just shows the true strength and passion that they have in doing exactly what they love to do. And of course I absolutely love the fact that they had contemporary songwriters for this 50th anniversary album, especially Rivers Cuomo.
I can only hope that the modern bands I listen to now will still be making music in upcoming decades like this.
Thank you so much for reading and be on the lookout for more posts about classic bands like this in the future!
~Say Love <3
I can only hope that the modern bands I listen to now will still be making music in upcoming decades like this.
Thank you so much for reading and be on the lookout for more posts about classic bands like this in the future!
~Say Love <3